Hinged bridging plates for lay-in wireways

ABSTRACT

This invention relates generally to a lay-in wireway comprising a plurality of hollow rectangular channel sections secured in end-to-end relation and provided with hinged covers which overlap similarly hinged bridging plates disposed therebetween. The bridging plates are provided with resilient gaskets which sealingly engage the open sides of the channel sections and the covers are similarly provided with gaskets which sealingly engage the tops of the bridging plates.

United States Patent Rauhauser 1 Jan. 25, 1972 [54] HINGED BRIDGINGPLATES FOR LAY- 3,331,916 7/1967 George et al 174/68 c IN WIREWAYS3,338,599 8/1967 Hallman ..l38/l58 X I 3,562,402 2/l97l Dwyer ..l74/35GC lnvemofl Warren Rauhauser, Dem)", Mlch- 3,570,546 3 1971 Jackson..13s/155 z I W [73] Assignee Keystone Columbia, nc arren Mich PrimaryExaminer Laramle E. Askm [22] Filed: Feb- 4, 1 71 Attorney-Harness,Dickey & Pierce [21] Appl. No.: 112,703

52 us. c1 ..138/155, 138/158, 138/164, [571 I ABSTRACT 174/68 174/101This invention relates generally to a lay-in wireway comprising [51]Int. Cl. ..H02g 3/04, H02g 3/06 a plurality of hollow rectangularchannel Sections secured in Fleld 0 Search 7 CT, GC, C, end to endrelation and provided covers 138/92 285/12] overlap similarly hingedbridging plates disposed therebetween. The bridging plates are providedwith resilient [56] References C'ted gaskets which sealingly engage theopen sides of the channel sections and the covers are similarly providedwith gaskets UNITED STATES PATENTS which sealingly engage the tops ofthe bridging plates. 3,003,794 10/1961 Burley ..285/l21 i 3,312,251 41967 Marks et al. ..138/158 16 Claims, 5 Drawing Flgures PmENTEnm-smz Y3.636.984

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I-IINGED BRIDGING PLATES FOR LAY-IN WIREWAYS BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to an improvementin the lay-in wireway disclosed in the George et al. US. Pat. No.3,33l,9l6 which issued July I8, 1967 and is assigned to the assignee ofthe present invention. In that patent, a plurality of elongated wirewaychannel sections are shown connected in end-to-end relation forcontaining wiring, usually in the form of wiring harnesses. The opensides of the channel sections are provided with inwardly extendingflanges and are closed by covers which are attached by hinges to thechannel sections and sealingly engage the flanges. Bridging platesextending across the open sides of the assembled channel sectionsbetween adjacent covers are detachably connected by threaded fastenersto the undersides of the flanges. The undersides of the covers and thetops of the bridging plates are suitably gasketed to provide afluidtight seal which protects and shields the wiring, for example, fromdampness or fluids in the environment of the wireway. In this regard, itwill be appreciated that a wireway is frequently installed in factories,photographic processing dark rooms, and like places where it is exposedto liquids such as lubricants and processing fluids which are harmful towiring.

In the above construction, the bridging plates preferably are removedprior to insertion of wiring or wiring harnesses into the wireway.However, the bridging plates and fastening screws sometimes become lostor misplaced after removal requiring replacement of the lost parts andpossibly leading to the temptation not to replace the bridging platesand consequently allowing liquid to enter at the resultant open joints.In film developing laboratories and the like where the room in which thewireway is installed is only dimly lit by red lights, the recovery of alost or misplaced part is hampered so that the above problem isespecially acute. Moreover, in some cases an effective fluid seal is notattained even if the bridging plates are replaced due to impropertightening of the screws which fasten the bridging plates.

The lay-in wireway construction of the present invention improves on theforegoing construction by providing bridging plates which arepermanently hinged to the wireway channel sections so they cannot beinadvertently or intentionally left out of the assembly and which haveno loose fasteners that may be lost or misplaced. Moreover, the bridgingplates are hinged at the same side of the opening as the section coversand the plates underlie the covers so that they are self-closing uponclosing of the covers. As a further advantage, the bridging plates areopenable with minimal effort by lifting to expose the entire channel ofthe wireway such that the wiring does not have to be threaded under eachbridging plate, and consequently, wiring may be readily laid withoutdamage. According to this invention, sealing means or gaskets areprovided between the adjacent ends of the wireway channel sections andthe latter are sealingly engaged by the end sealing strips on thebridging plates. Similarly, the closed bridging plates and the adjacentflange portions of the body sections are sealingly engaged by gaskets ofresilient material at the ends of the covers to effect a completefluidtight seal between the adjacent sections. A sealing force isprovided for the seals by clamps which retain the covers in the closedposition. Accordingly, not only is the wireway of this inventionconvenient to use, but it is relatively foolproof in operation sinceclosing and securing the covers also automatically closes and securesthe bridging plates to provide a continuous, fully sealed wireway.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a pairof wireway channel sections joined in end-to-end relation and equippedwith a hinged bridging plate according to the teachings of thisinventron;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the wireway shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, transverse sectional view taken on the line 3--3of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary,'longitudinal sectional view taken on the line44 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view taken on the line55 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. I an exemplary lay-inwireway I0 is illustrated which embodies the present invention and whichincludes a plurality of standard channel sections 12. Each of thechannel sections 12 includes a body 14 having a bottom 16 and a pair ofupstanding sides 18 and 20 having inwardly turned flanges 22 and 24respectively at the top thereof so as to form a U channel which issubstantially completely open on the top. The open top of each channelsection 12 is adapted to be closed by a cover 26 which is pivotallymounted at the side 20 by longitudinal hinges 27; and each cover 26 isreleasably secured in the closed position by a latch 28 which is mountedon the side 18 in cooperative association with a keeper 30 on the cover.The channel sections 12 are also provided with radially outwardlyextending three sided end flanges 32 and 34; and adjacent channelsections 12 are secured in end-toend relation by bolts 36 and nuts '38which pass through openings in the flanges 32 and 34. A generallyU-shaped resilient rubberlike sealing member or gasket 42 of neoprene orthe like is disposed between the confronting flanges 32 and 34 ofadjacent channel sections 12 with the bolts 36 extending through thesealing member 42 to seal the joints between the flanges. The gasket 42preferably is slightly oversize so that it is squeezed and extendedslightly radially outwardly of the flanges 32 and 34 and slightly abovethe top flanges 22 and 24 of the adjacent channel sections 12 when thenuts 38 are tightened on the bolts 36.

In accordance with the present invention, a transverse bridging plate 44is pivotally mounted on the channel sections 12 at the same side as andbetween each pair of adjacent covers 26. To this end, each bridgingplate 44 is provided with a longitudinal piano hinge 46 having integralhinge plates 48 and 50. This arrangement of the bridging plate 44positions it to close and seal the joint between the flanges 32 and 34and to bridge the space between adjacent flanges 22 and 24. In thepreferred construction here shown, the hinge plate 48 is secured to theend flange 32 of one channel section 12 by an L-shaped bracket 52 asbest seen in FIGS. 3-5. The L-shaped bracket 52 has one leg secured tothe flange 32 by a bolt 54 and nut 56 and its other leg is permanentlyaffixed to the hinge plate 48 as by welding. The bridging plate 44 has arectangular main portion 58 which is formed with an integral rectangularextension 60. Secured to the underside of the bridging plate 44 near itshinged end is a resilient rectangular sealing strip 62; and a resilientsealing strip 64 with a configuration generally conforming to theprojection also is secured to the underside of the plate 44 at theswinging end thereof. Each of the sealing strips 62 and 64 may be of thesame material as the gasket 42. As best seen in FIG. 3, when thebridging plate 44 is closed, the sealing strip 62 makes a good sealingengagement with the upper flanges 24 of adjacent channel sections 12,with the protruding end of the gasket 42 and with the ends of theflanges 32 and 34. The other sealing member 64 similarly seats on andsealingly engages the flanges 22, the protruding end of the gasket 42and the adjacent ends of flanges 32 and 34.

Each cover 26 is provided with a pair of resilient sealing strips 66 and68 which are secured to the underside of the cover at opposite sidesthereof; and a pair of resilient sealing strips 70 and 72 are secured tothe underside and at opposite ends of the cover. As best seen in FIG. 4,adjacent covers 26 overlap the intermediate bridging plate 44 so thatthe transverse sealing strips 70 and 72 engage the upper surface of thebridging plate 44 substantially along their full length while the sidesealing strips 66 and 68 engage the upper surface of the bridging plate44 at their extreme ends. The longitudinal sealing strips 66 and 68further engage and seal the upper surfaces of the flanges 22 and 24continuously between the strips 70 the wireway along its entire lengthfor easy insertion of wiring l and wiring harnesses. All bridging plates44 remain attached to the assembly by the hinges 46 so that they cannotbe misplaced or lost. After the wiring has been placed in the wireway,the bridging plates 44 are closed automatically when the covers 26 areclosed and they are automatically sealingly locked in position when thelatches 28 are engaged with the keepers 30. A wireway constructionaccording to the present invention assures an effective fluidtight sealalong its entire length and is a significant advance in this art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a lay-in wireway, a pair of channel members connected end-to-endand having corresponding open sides through which wiring is placed insaid members; covers hingedly connected to said channel members disposedto close the open sides of their respective channel members; a bridgingplate hingedly connected to at least one of said channel members adaptedto extend transversely across the open sides of said channel members atthe connected ends thereof and in underlapping relation to said covers;and means for sealing thejoints between said channel members and saidcovers, the joints between said channel members and said bridging plate,and the joints between said bridging plate and said covers when saidbridging plate and said covers are closed, said covers and said bridgingplate adapted to be opened to permit unobstructed placement of wiring insaid channel members and said covers adapted to engage and close saidbridging plate automatically as said covers are closed.

2. The combination as set forth in claim I wherein said sealing meanscomprises a first sealing gasket means disposed between the connectedends of said channel members and extending at least slightly above theopen sides of said channel members and second sealing gasket means onthe underside of said bridging plate engageable with the channel membersand simultaneously with said first sealing gasket means when saidbridging plate is closed.

3. A lay-in wireway according to claim 1 wherein the hinge connectionfor said bridging plate is attached to said channel members adjacent tothe open sides thereof for pivotal opening and closing movement about anaxis extending longitudinally of said wireway.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the hinge connections forsaid covers are disposed at the same side of said channel members as thehinge connection for said bridging plate and similarly adapted forpivotal opening and closing movement about axes extending longitudinallyof said wireway.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said covers overlap saidbridging plate and wherein said bridging plate and said covers aremounted for pivotal closing movement in the same direction so that saidbridging plate is engaged and closed automatically by said covers uponclosing of said covers.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 further including fastening meansfor securing said covers tightly in closed positions, whereby securingof said covers in a'closed position also secures said bridging plate ina closed position.

7. An apparatus according to claim I wherein at least a portion of saidsealing means is secured to said bridging plate.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of saidsealing means is secured to said bridging plate and is cooperative witha second portion of said sealing means disposed between the connectedends of said channel members to seal said wireway.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of saidsealing means is secured to said covers.

10. In a lay-in wireway, a pair of channel members disposed end-to-endhaving outwardly extending radial flanges at the adjacent ends thereofand corresponding open sides, inwardly turned longitudinal flangesextending along the open sides of said channel members, sealing meansdisposed between said radial flanges at the adjacent ends of saidchannel members, fastening means securing said radial flanges and saidchannel members together, a bridging member adapted to span a portion ofthe open sides of said channel members and to overlay said radialflanges and having resilient sealing means on the underside thereof,hinge means connecting said bridging member to a side of said channelmembers for pivotal movement about an axis extending longitudinally ofsaid wireway, whereby said bridging member can be opened to expose theopen sides of said channel members at the adjacent ends thereof orclosed to cover said open sides at the adjacent ends of the channelmembers, said resilient sealing means engaging said inwardly turnedflanges on either side of said radial flanges in the closed position ofsaid bridging member, a cover member for each of said channel membersextending substantially the full length of the latter and overlappingsaid bridging member, said cover members having resilient sealing meanson the undersides thereof engageable with the upper side of saidbridging member upon closing of said cover members, and fastening meansfor said cover members operable to press the resilient sealing means ofsaid cover members against said bridging member and to press theresilient sealing means of said bridging member simultaneously againstsaid inwardly turned flanges to provide a sealing engagementtherebetween, whereby said wireway is sealed at the adjacentinterconnected ends of said channel members when said bridging memberand said covers are closed.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein each of said covermembers includes a hinge mounting said cover member for pivotal openingand closing movement about an axis extending longitudinally of saidwireway.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said bridging member hasan extension opposite its hinge means with said resilient sealing meansin part secured to the other underside of said extension for engagingsaid radial flanges.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 further including bracket meansmounting said bridging member hinge to one of said radial flanges.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said bracket means is anL-shaped member having one leg secured to said bridging member hinge andanother leg secured to said one radial flange.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said bridging memberhinge is a piano hinge having a pair of integral hinge plates with oneof said hinge plates secured to said bridging member and another of saidhinge plates secured to said one leg of said bracket.

16. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said hinge is a pianohinge having a pair of integral hinge plates with one of said hingeplates secured to said bridging member and another of said hinge platessecured to one of said radial flanges.

1. In a lay-in wireway, a pair of channel members connected endto-endand having corresponding open sides through which wiring is placed insaid members; covers hingedly connected to said channel members disposedto close the open sides of their respective channel members; a bridgingplate hingedly connected to at least one of said channel members adaptedto extend transversely across the open sides of said channel members atthe connected ends thereof and in underlapping relation to said covers;and means for sealing the joints between said channel members and saidcovers, the joints between said channel members and said bridging plate,and the joints between said bridging plate and said covers when saidbridging plate and said covers are closed, said covers and said bridgingplate adapted to be opened to permit unobstructed placement of wiring insaid channel members and said covers adapted to engage and close saidbridging plate automatically as said covers are closed.
 2. Thecombination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sealing means comprisesa first sealing gasket means disposed between the connected ends of saidchannel members and extending at least slightly above the open sides ofsaid channel members and second sealing gasket means on the underside ofsaid bridging plate engageable with the channel members Andsimultaneously with said first sealing gasket means when said bridgingplate is closed.
 3. A lay-in wireway according to claim 1 wherein thehinge connection for said bridging plate is attached to said channelmembers adjacent to the open sides thereof for pivotal opening andclosing movement about an axis extending longitudinally of said wireway.4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the hinge connections forsaid covers are disposed at the same side of said channel members as thehinge connection for said bridging plate and similarly adapted forpivotal opening and closing movement about axes extending longitudinallyof said wireway.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein saidcovers overlap said bridging plate and wherein said bridging plate andsaid covers are mounted for pivotal closing movement in the samedirection so that said bridging plate is engaged and closedautomatically by said covers upon closing of said covers.
 6. Anapparatus according to claim 5 further including fastening means forsecuring said covers tightly in closed positions, whereby securing ofsaid covers in a closed position also secures said bridging plate in aclosed position.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least aportion of said sealing means is secured to said bridging plate.
 8. Anapparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of saidsealing means is secured to said bridging plate and is cooperative witha second portion of said sealing means disposed between the connectedends of said channel members to seal said wireway.
 9. An apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said sealing means issecured to said covers.
 10. In a lay-in wireway, a pair of channelmembers disposed end-to-end having outwardly extending radial flanges atthe adjacent ends thereof and corresponding open sides, inwardly turnedlongitudinal flanges extending along the open sides of said channelmembers, sealing means disposed between said radial flanges at theadjacent ends of said channel members, fastening means securing saidradial flanges and said channel members together, a bridging memberadapted to span a portion of the open sides of said channel members andto overlay said radial flanges and having resilient sealing means on theunderside thereof, hinge means connecting said bridging member to a sideof said channel members for pivotal movement about an axis extendinglongitudinally of said wireway, whereby said bridging member can beopened to expose the open sides of said channel members at the adjacentends thereof or closed to cover said open sides at the adjacent ends ofthe channel members, said resilient sealing means engaging said inwardlyturned flanges on either side of said radial flanges in the closedposition of said bridging member, a cover member for each of saidchannel members extending substantially the full length of the latterand overlapping said bridging member, said cover members havingresilient sealing means on the undersides thereof engageable with theupper side of said bridging member upon closing of said cover members,and fastening means for said cover members operable to press theresilient sealing means of said cover members against said bridgingmember and to press the resilient sealing means of said bridging membersimultaneously against said inwardly turned flanges to provide a sealingengagement therebetween, whereby said wireway is sealed at the adjacentinterconnected ends of said channel members when said bridging memberand said covers are closed.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 10wherein each of said cover members includes a hinge mounting said covermember for pivotal opening and closing movement about an axis extendinglongitudinally of said wireway.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 11wherein said bridging member has an extension opposite its hinge meanswith said resilient sealing means in part secured to the other undersideof said extension for engaging said rAdial flanges.
 13. An apparatusaccording to claim 12 further including bracket means mounting saidbridging member hinge to one of said radial flanges.
 14. An apparatusaccording to claim 13 wherein said bracket means is an L-shaped memberhaving one leg secured to said bridging member hinge and another legsecured to said one radial flange.
 15. An apparatus according to claim14 wherein said bridging member hinge is a piano hinge having a pair ofintegral hinge plates with one of said hinge plates secured to saidbridging member and another of said hinge plates secured to said one legof said bracket.
 16. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein saidhinge is a piano hinge having a pair of integral hinge plates with oneof said hinge plates secured to said bridging member and another of saidhinge plates secured to one of said radial flanges.